AHS Membership 101: What is Covered in Your Home Warranty Plan? 

What is Home Warranty Coverage? 

Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers your home from events like fires, theft, or natural disasters, a home warranty helps protect your budget when covered parts of home systems and appliances break down due to normal wear and tear.

At American Home Shield®, we understand that a broken fridge or a malfunctioning HVAC system is more than a mechanical annoyance – it's a disruption to your family’s comfort and routine. That's why we stand by your side, ready to help when these small yet significant issues arise. 

In this guide, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of home warranties, answering the crucial question: "What does a home warranty cover?"

Understanding Home Warranty Coverage: A Comprehensive Guide

Home warranties help homeowners reduce the impact of unexpected covered repair costs. By providing a predictable and affordable solution, they give homeowners more control in the face of unexpected breakdowns. This means less worry about the "what ifs" and more focus on “what a great home.”

Let's peel back the layers to see what this coverage entails.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover? 

Depending on the specific plan you choose, we provide homeowner coverage for up to 23 parts of home systems and appliances, regardless of their age. This includes major components of items such as your HVAC system, electrical systems, plumbing, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and more. 

Imagine a home warranty from American Home Shield as your safety net. When a covered item breaks down, we'll assign a qualified Pro to diagnose the issue and handle the repair, and we'll help save you from unexpected out-of-pockets costs.

All home warranties are not created equal. Our Shield Assurances are always included, even in our base plan option.

Our Members Get More

That means you get coverage for:

• Normal wear-and-tear, no matter the age of a covered item
• Unknown, pre-existing breakdowns
• Items without maintenance records
• Duplicates of the same item, like that extra AC unit
• Removal of defective equipment
• Refrigerant recapture, reclaim and disposal
• Breakdowns caused by:

o   Improper installations or repairs

o   Insufficient maintenance

o   Rust, corrosion and sediment

o   Mismatched HVAC systems

• Included in Real Estate + ShieldPlatinum™ plans:
  Permits and correction of code violations
  ($250 or more per agreement term when required during a covered repair/replacement) 

See the plan agreement for coverage details, including service fees, limitations and exclusions. Coverage limits and charges for non-covered items may apply. Coverage not available in all areas.

If you have an issue with your completed repair within 30 days of service, we’ll send a Pro back out for free.

American Home Shield provides coverage for mechanical and electrical failures of specific parts of home systems and appliances related to normal wear and tear. However, this means that we won't cover your dishwasher should your child sit on the door or bash it with a toy, for example. Normal wear and tear refers to breakdowns related to everyday use. 

Your American Home Shield plan agreement contains all your specific coverage details, limits, and more. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with your plan agreement upon becoming a member via MyAccount.

See the plan agreement for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions. Coverage limits and charges for non-covered items may apply.

Exploring American Home Shield’s Unique Offerings

Every home is unique, and so are the needs of each homeowner. That's why our plans are crafted to cater to a diverse range of requirements and preferences. Let's explore how our plans are designed to be the perfect fit for your home.

Our Plans: Tailored to Your Needs

All American Home Shield plans offer you peace of mind. However, picking the right home warranty coverage for your needs is very important. We make the choice easy with three distinct plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. Each is designed to cater to different needs and preferences, ensuring there’s a perfect fit for every homeowner:

• ShieldSilver™ focuses on the key parts of your home systems, covering items like your air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing.
• ShieldGold™ steps up by including all the coverage of ShieldSilver™ plus parts of major appliances such as your refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher.
• ShieldPlatinum™ is the most comprehensive, encompassing everything in ShieldGold™ and adding roof leak repair and an HVAC tune-up, among other benefits.

Your choice depends on your home's specific needs. If you're more concerned about the fundamental systems, ShieldSilver™ is ideal. For broader coverage including appliances, ShieldGold™ is the way to go. For the most extensive protection and additional perks, ShieldPlatinum™ is the best.

Optional Add-ons for Enhanced Home Warranty Coverage

American Home Shield also offers a range of optional add-ons. 

These additions, from pool and built-in spa equipment coverage to well pumps and guest units, allow for a customized approach to home warranty coverage. You can seamlessly integrate these additional coverage options into your plan to ensure that your coverage meets your full range of needs.

Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty  

One question we hear often is, “What’s the difference between homeowners’  insurance and a home warranty?” Both are important tools that can reduce the risk and the financial burden of owning a home. But you need to understand they provide two different layers of protection.

Homeowners’ insurance protects your home and personal belongings against damages from perils like wind, hail, fire, vandalism, flood, or theft. The insurance helps you to rebuild and replace the lost, damaged, or stolen property.

• Home structure
• Personal belongings
• Liability
• Living expenses

Home warranties provide repair and replacement coverage for parts of HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. Each plan varies in the specifics of what’s covered but may include:

• Kitchen appliances
• Laundry appliances
• Furnace
• Air conditioner
• Televisions
• Audio
• Security
• And more

American Home Shield also offers plans for home buyers and sellers that provide additional coverage like code violations, permits modifications, rekey services and other issues related to buying and selling a home.

Exploring American Home Shield’s Unique Offerings

Every home is unique, and so are the needs of each homeowner. That's why our plans are crafted to cater to a diverse range of requirements and preferences. Let's explore how our plans are designed to be the perfect fit for your home.

The American Home Shield Advantage: Why Choose Us? 

The American Home Shield advantage lies in our commitment to our members. Our plans are designed with homeowners in mind, so you can protect your budget, breathe easier, and forget about searching for the right repair Pros because we do that for you. 

Ready to take the next step?

Visit our website to learn more about our plans, understand the plan options, and find the perfect fit for your home. Feel free to reach out to our team with any questions you might have — we're here to assist you every step of the way. Act today and join the millions of satisfied homeowners who have chosen American Home Shield for their home warranty needs.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.